The Devon Dialogue
volume iii, issue 1 | october 2011
proudly publishing for five decades
Devon Preparatory School
Devon Honors First Responders Students hold Mass with local firefighters to remember the victims of 9/11.
Kentucky Service Trip Devonites travel to Kentucky to aid the parishioners of St. Martha’s Parish. page 2.
World Youth Day Devon students and alumni join Pope Benedict XVI in Madrid. page 4.
Solar Car Team Takes Trophy The Solar Car Team took fourth place in the Solar Car Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway.
Passing Bills, Not Time
Soaking Up the Sun
Kevin Fulmer ’13
Antonio Muscarella ’13
Ryan Fulmer ’12 has recently had the honor of shaking President Obama’s hand. It all started with a camp that Ryan heard of from an army recruiter. The recruiter in his talk spoke highly of a program called Boys State, and recommended it to his audience. Ryan signed up for the experience, and went to Shippensburg University for a week. He was accompanied by 206 young men, and they were divided into seven virtual cities. Ryan was elected mayor, and throughout the week, the young men simulated real-life problems and dealt with them via legislature. As the mayor, Ryan realized and noted, “You can’t do everything yourself, delegation is one of the most important aspects of leadership.” Over the duration of the program, the young men learned valuable qualities in leadership, decision-making, and teamwork. At the end of the camp, the “Honors City of the Week” prize is given out to the topperforming city, based on its responses to various “disasters” and problems. Ryan and his city won that honor, and later that night he was told that he had been selected to continue on to a more prestigious program called Boys Nation. Boys Nation is the same concept as Boys State, except on a larger scale. He represented Pennsylvania, along with one other candidate, as a senator. He was flown into Washington, D.C. and participated in a Senate, passing legislation and working with America’s finest youths. He commented that it was a real experience just to be with the elected leaders of the country. While in Washington, the group visited various historical landmarks such as the Vietnam and Iwo Jima memorials, and heard distinguished speakers and guests. The climax of the expedition was listening to a speech by President Obama, and then shaking his hand. The skills Ryan learned there will last him a lifetime, and now, just as the army recruiter had recommended it to him, Ryan encourages others to participate in Boys State.
This past summer marked the very first time Devon Prep upper school students participated in the annual Solar Car Challenge in Dallas, Texas. The challenge is a national high school solar car race on the Texas Motor Speedway, occurring every year in mid-July. Teams participating in this event construct full-size solar cars to compete in an endurance race on a real NASCAR track. Devon Prep was the first team from Pennsylvania to participate in the twenty-year history of this event. The Devon Prep Solar Car Team was started back in the fall of 2010 and after a rocky start, finally began construction of a solar vehicle
in April 2011. In a remarkable three months of hard work, dedication, and perseverance, the team created a complete, running solar car before the deadline of July. Team members Jacob Riedel ’13, Antonio Muscarella, Chris Clayton ’13, Rich Gargano ’13, Fiore Schena ’14, and Michael Horbowy ’14 all made colossal efforts to get the project done in time. Through the course of those three months, team members had the opportunity to learn all aspects of car design. They designed a chassis around a suspension system found on an old Sprint car and wired the entire electrical system of the car—including six twelve-volt batteries, a hefty, thirty-pound
continued on page 3
Devon Prep Remembers September 11 Daniel McGarry ’12
Rev. Mychal Judge, Chaplain of the New York City Fire Department. Fr. Judge was the first recorded victim of the attacks on September 11. Fr. Duffy described footage taken of Fr. Judge praying in the lobby of the North Tower of the World Trade Center, just before being killed by the gust of wind produced by the collapse of the South Tower at 9:59 a.m. After the General Intercessions at the Mass, the Last Alarm Ceremony was performed by a member of the Berwyn Fire Company. September 11, 2001, 8:46 a.m.: Flight 11 hits This included a moment of silence as a bell the North Tower of the World Trade Center. was solemnly rung in memory of those who This image marks the beginning of a day that lost their lives on that tragic day. After Mass, forever changed the face of America, a day in Justin McNabb gave an inspiring speech, which more than 343 firefighters and 72 police reminding Devon Prep of what it truly means officers gave up their lives to protect others. to serve and gave special thanks to the guests, On September 9, 2011, Devon Prep held a as well as all who made the wonderful event Mass in honor of these fallen heroes. Devon possible. was honored to host guests from the Tredyffrin This ceremony was a touching tribute to the Police Department, as well as firefighters from many lives lost on September 11, 2001. Even the Berwyn and Bryn Mawr Fire Companies, though many Devon students are too young including Justin McNabb ’12. to remember that day, they will always have The homily was given by Rev. Michael the memory of this ceremony and the story of Duffy, O.F.M., who was a dear friend of the late Fr. Judge.